ed the duchess's hand, and entreated her to be so
kind as to let good care be taken of his Dapple, for he was the light
of his eyes.

"What is Dapple?" said the duchess.

"My ass," said Sancho, "which, not to mention him by that name, I'm
accustomed to call Dapple; I begged this lady duenna here to take care
of him when I came into the castle, and she got as angry as if I had
said she was ugly or old, though it ought to be more natural and
proper for duennas to feed asses than to ornament chambers. God bless
me! what a spite a gentleman of my village had against these ladies!"

"He must have been some clown," said Dona Rodriguez, the duenna; "for
if he had been a gentleman and well-born he would have exalted them
higher than the horns of the moon."

"That will do," said the duchess; "no more of this; hush, Dona
Rodriguez, and let Senor Panza rest easy and leave the treatment of
Dapple in my charge; for as he is a treasure of Sancho's, I'll put him
on the apple of my eye."

"It will be enough for him to be in the stable," said Sancho, "for
neither he nor I are worthy to rest a moment in the apple of your
Highness's eye, and I'd as soon stab myself as consent to it; for
though my master says that in civilities it is better to lose by a
card too many than a card too few, when it comes to civilities to
asses we must mind what we are about and keep within due bounds."

"Take him to your government, Sancho," said the duchess, "and there
you will be able to make as much of him as you like, and even release
him from work and pension him off."

"Don't think, senora duchess, that you have said anything absurd,"
said Sancho: "I have seen more than two asses go to governments, and
for me to take mine with me would be nothing new."

Sancho's words made the duchess laugh again, and gave her fresh
amusement, and dismissing him to sleep she went away to tell the duke
the conversation she had had with him.

SANCHO PANZA AS GOVERNOR

The history says that from the justice court they carried Sancho to a
sumptuous palace, where in a spacious chamber there was a table laid
out with royal magnificence. The clarions sounded as Sancho entered
the room, and four pages came forward to present him with water for
his hands, which Sancho received with great dignity. The music ceased,
and Sancho seated himself at the head of the table; for there was only
that seat placed, and no more than the one cover laid. A personage,
who it ap